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Russia is a big nation with military power next only to the U.S. since World War II. However, in the 21st century, two things altered the world order. First, the Soviet Union collapsed due to its failure to manage its economy. Russia is now a lone country struggling in economic development although still possessing a huge military power, especially including a sizable nuclear arsenal. Second, the People's Republic of China has risen from one of the poorest nations on Earth to become the second largest economy in the world with the strongest manufacturing capability supplying more than half of the world's needs in consumer goods. The only thing challenging China right now is how to unite with Taiwan which has been separated from China due to a domestic battle prolonged by its treacherous revolution to build a Republic nation against a corrupt Qing emperor and external powers who were trying to colonize China. To this day, Taiwan's status was kept from reunification mainly due to external influence on the Taiwan government. Russia was one of the external influences in China along with the U.S. The two superpowers backed the PRC and ROC separately throughout WWII to the Korean War creating the cross-strait separation existing today. Russia's influence over the PRC has diminished as the PRC rises to be independent, however, ROC (Taiwan) has not yet succeeded in shaking the U.S. influence to unite with Mainland China as West and East Germany did.
 
As the PRC continues its rapid development in economic, social, military, and political development, it inevitably is gaining influence on the world stage which has made the U.S. worry about losing its dominating position in the world. Hence, the U.S. has included China with Russia as its rivals on the world stage, even though China has always advocated for a peaceful rise seeking collaborative economic development rather than military confrontation or any colonial behavior that humiliated China for nearly one and half centuries. Unfortunately, the U.S. was too used to hegemony behavior to accept the changing world. Thus, the U.S. foreign policy rooted in the “Thucydides Trap” notion was playing a zero-sum (I win you lose) strategy not accepting a collaborative win-win relationship. The present wars happening between Russia and Ukraine or between Israel and Hamas, to a large extent, were caused by the U.S. foreign policy strategy. Recently, Taiwan has become “the world's most dangerous place' (As reported by the Economist) with the potential not only to stir up military confrontation in the Taiwan Strait but also the probability of leading to world war. The U.S. has been selling military gear to Taiwan and painted a war scenario despite China always pursuing the route of peaceful reunification barring Taiwan declaring independence.
 
Taiwan, at the center of the world's attention on world war, seems to show a bipolar personality. The government with its politicians is playing with the U.S. anti-China tune while its people seem to be ignorant about the motives and consequences of the 'ambiguous Taiwan policy' the U.S. is playing. Recently, this author came across a press interview of Andrey Denisov who is a senior foreign diplomat with credentials being Russia's deputy minister of foreign affairs and ambassador to China. This interview has been entitled “It's best not to pretend to be asleep. I give this advice to the United States and Taiwan.” (7-14-2023) This author read the interview in Chinese (www.Guancha.cn) but did not find it in English, but Americans (including Chinese Americans and Taiwanese) need to know about it. In the following, it is the author's comments on this interview.
 
Andrey Denisov said: The U.S.'s policy towards Russia is filled with hostility, such actions will not bring any substantive benefits but will provoke China since Russia and China have back-to-back relationships. This view is generally correct, the U.S. is essentially strengthening the Russia-China relations. Responding to a question on Blinken's speech in Finland: “The U.S. is not an enemy of Russia.” “A secure and prosperous Russia aligns with U.S. interests.” Denisov responded: “We will judge the truthfulness of these words based on the actions of the U.S. Over the years, ….caused us harm. It is hard to mend a broken mirror, and relying on these empty words to restore trust doesn't make sense. “Denisov further responded to Blinken's speech: “Blinken's implicit message is nothing more than this: if Russia submits to the so-called rule-based order led by the United States, conforms to the U.S. vision for the modern world, and consents to the U.S. hegemonic policies towards almost all countries worldwide, then Russia has the chance to repair its relationship with the United States. In short, if Russia yields to U.S. hegemony, the United States is willing to be friends with Russia – that is the reality.” “Now, U.S. weapons are killing our people, and for the United States, this seems routine. People have already been killed by them, and in this context, officials from the U.S. State Department and the White House are coming forward to make so-called peace statements. Hypocrisy truly knows no bounds.”
 
On the Taiwan issue, the interviewer made a clear description of U.S. actions, including Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, …” These continuous provocations expose the true intentions of U.S....What is the likelihood of China and the United States getting into a hot conflict, especially considering the intense situation around the Taiwan Strait?” Denisov responded: “The situation around Taiwan is heating up, but this is a "man-made escalation" caused by U.S. provocations.” He then quoted the Russian proverb: “It's best not to pretend to be asleep," and I extend this saying to the United States and Taiwan.” This is an acute observation of the ignorance and behavior of the Taiwanese people - letting others lead their fate to peril. Then the interview turned to the Russia-Ukraine war and China's proposal for a peaceful settlement. Denisov holds a purely positive attitude towards China's twelve-point peace plan.” By proposing this plan, China is attempting to alleviate a serious international conflict that has been ongoing for some time, demonstrating China's determination to address the issue. However, I believe this reflects an issue. Recently, China has been trying to adopt a rather restrained position in various international crises and conflicts, advising countries worldwide to focus on events happening in neighboring countries, concentrate on bilateral relations with neighboring nations, and avoid intervening in external affairs.”
 
Denisov then commented further on China's diplomatic policy which he terms as a historic leadership. He cited China's mediation making Saudi Arabia and Iran achieve a historic reconciliation despite deep-rooted structural contradictions and hostilities between the two. Russia welcomes China's plan for peace. Extending the discussion to U.S.-China relations, Denisov's view is that the economic and trade relations between the two countries are indeed inseparable, with deep mutual influence and connection. In terms of trade volume, the United States is China's third-largest trading partner, surpassed only by ASEAN and the EU. On the topic of U.S.-China relations, economic relations act as an anchor that can maintain or even strengthen political relations between the two countries, however, ...not unbreakable. (Citing Russia-Germany mutually beneficial economy broken because of political ill maneuver. Germany's trade (economy) has suffered badly.) Here, one may point to Taiwan-Mainland trade relations. The ECFA trade agreement has given Taiwan trade advantages (Surplus ~$25-100 billion/Year in recent years) Yet, its current government's political stance may be jeopardizing the trade relations which may have a devastating effect on Taiwan's economy. Perhaps, the Taiwanese people should read Denisov's warning as 旁观者清- A Chinese proverb – A on-looker sees the best!
 

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The world is not at peace for sure. In Europe, the Russia-Ukraine war has entered its third year. The U.S. coercing its NATO allies is continuing its military aid to Ukraine instead of focusing on any cease-fire plan. This war instead of crippling Russia's economy has brought energy shortages and high inflation to Europe. In the Middle East, the Israel-Houthis conflict has turned Gaza into a war zone, despite of UN and many countries calling for stopping the 'genocide' killing, the U.S. seems to be unable or unwilling to pressure Israel to cease fire. This conflict has escalated to the Red Sea. The Red Sea connects the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea through the narrow Suez Canal between Africa and the Middle East. The Suez Canal has been a vital waterway for shipping goods between Europe and Asia. This crisis has a great impact on trade, affecting world commerce and logistics. Shipping insurance rates skyrocketed and only ships flying the Chinese flag got to pass through. The U.S.'s response is retaliation rather than seeking a peaceful settlement. China seems to be the only nation trying to mediate these wars, however, its twelve-point peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine war seems to fall on deaf ears in the West even though Russia expressed acceptance for a peace talk. China was successful in getting Saudi Arabia and Iran to establish diplomatic relations. But its intention and effort in peace mediation were ignored by the U.S. Instead, the U.S. driven by the pressure of its presidential election coming in November seemed to be more interested in painting an Imperial China threatening the U.S. security than in worrying about its domestic problems and how to work with China to seek world peace. Why? Why do the American politicians and think tanks inflame a "China Imperialist threat" despite no evidence?!
 
Recently, Tucker Carlson released an exclusive interview with Vladimir Putin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYfByTcY49k). This interview received millions of viewers creating a hot discussion on the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S.-Russia relations, and most significantly extended to U.S.-China relations. There are numerous post-interview commentators on Carlson's interview and Carlson himself as a controversial media personality, especially in his background as a media professional. Some of the main points revealed were first, Carlson was a pro-Russia reporter, second, Carlson was a close supporter of Donald Trump, and third, Carlson was a hawk against China throughout his journalistic career. He had been promoting the idea of allying with Russia against China, in his view, China is an imperialist threatening the U.S. and the world but with no evidence, only blind belief. One of the commentators said that Carlson's purpose of his interview with Putin was to drive a wedge between Russia and China, but Putin saw through him and did not give him any chance to utter his ideas except by telling him China has great potential as a great nation. Putin was intelligently using the interview to give the world a clear history lesson about Russia and Russia's intent to integrate with Europe but was repeatedly slapped in the face by the U.S. and NATO denying Russia any chance to establish a peaceful relationship with Europe.
 
One of the commentators who reviewed Carlson's interview gave a fair interpretation of the interview and Carlson's hidden motives derived from his past words and deeds in his news reporting is Ben Norton (Geopolitical Economy Report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzEc5GbSbIU). Norton gave a detailed background on Carlson and his association with the CIA (including Carson's father was the Director of Voice of America and Putin's satirical comment congratulating Carlson for applying for a job in the CIA. Norton also showed another clip of Carlson accusing China of violating the Monroe Doctrine by trying to take over South America. Norton's Video exposed the U.S. right-wing warmonger stories and the U.S. "Deep State" control of America leading the U.S. foreign policies and domestic politics. What we need to understand is why these evil ideologies exist and what are the hidden causes or basis for these warmonger talks. What is troublesome is, in the U.S. bipartisan political arena, the anti-China warmonger voice is rising. In the coming 2024 presidential election, both the Democratic and Republican parties were singing anti-China verses, from promoting allies to join the sanctions against China to secretly preparing for WWIII targeting China. 
 
Shouldn't China be scared if the world superpower is mounting such an anti-China strategy? China's economic rise was evident, but China had never initiated a war against any country nor prolonged any conflict into war in its republic history. China's influence in the world came from its manufacturing power and trade policies, trading with every nation with free will and mutual benefits. No mutual defense treaty nor foreign military bases are associated with China's trade policies. China intelligently used its large population to create a productive workforce and its giant market to attract foreign investments and technologies. If there is a sin in China's rise, it is its desire to be independent, reach a better living standard for all its citizens, and not be subject to foreign control, thus China strives to be self-sufficient in agriculture, industrial manufacturing, and self-defense. The more pressure applied to China, the more defense and resistance occur, be it in its energy, food, and material supplies or military threat. The U.S. as the superpower of the world is losing its world influence because of China's rise, it is simply because the entire world is rising and demanding real independence. The U.S. spends so much money in NATO supposedly for Europe security not for controlling Europe, but the effect is clear. NATO is led not gaining peace for Europe but wars. Why is this happening?
 
To find the root cause for the U.S. decline and right-wing warmonger talks, perhaps the above videos and comments can shed some light. No matter what politically correct language is taught in schools, the U.S. never solved its discrimination problem. Carlson and the like prefer to ally Russia against China is deeply rooted in racial discrimination. The invisible deep state (two main elements, Wall Street and the military-industrial complex) controlling the U.S. government, its economy, and foreign policies is building on such discrimination and its self-interest, that is maintaining a superior military power and deriving profit from it by selling weapons, providing umbrellas and even to the extent creating wars. That is why both Biden and Trump are competing on who is tougher on China and no matter how old they are, the deep state has no interest in finding a younger leader. However, with Russia and China recognizing the U.S. ploy and moving to strategic partners, the U.S. feels uncertain about its legacy strategy, if destroying Russia then China is not feasible, then destroying them both together is impossible.  Would allying Russia against China be possible? No, Putin and Xi both see through such a plot. The sensible strategy for the U.S. is to revise the deep state approach, adopt a collaborative foreign policy, and fix its dependency on the military-industrial complex and the Wall Street economy.
 

 
The above title reflects the current U.S. unrest directly stirred up by its illegal immigrant problem. The following headlines give us a glimpse of the problem and its seriousness. For example, 1. Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed to add more razor wire along the border; 2. A divided Supreme Court allows Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire that Texas installed on the U.S.-Mexico border; 3. On April 1, the cost of the naturalization application will increase as much as 19%; 4. Immigrants overwhelmingly say they face discrimination and challenges; 5. Congress has failed to agree on how to address immigration challenges; 6. Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill making illegal immigration a state crime; 7. Attorney General Ken Paxton Leads Coalition of 15 Attorneys General Opposing Biden-Senate Border Bill; 8. Texas' new illegal entry law will test states' powers; 9. Texas’ refusal to allow Border Patrol agents into a park along the U.S.-Mexico border is a new marker in the state’s deepening rift with the Biden administration over immigration; 10. In March 2023, state representative Bryan Slaton introduced a bill to add a referendum on independence to the 2024 US election ballot; 11. In December 2023, the Texas Nationalist Movement claimed that it collected enough signatures under the petition to include a question on secession on the ballot in 2024. These recent developments prompted the “Divorce America” voice based on a legacy Texas spirit of seeking independence through secession for its state constitutional rights.
 
History of Texas State
 
Texas of course was populated by natives more than 10,000 years ago evidenced by the discovery of remains of a prehistoric human body. The first arrivals of immigrants were Spanish in 1519. In the recorded history of Texas, all or parts of it have been claimed through different times by France (1643-1687), Spain (1690-1821), Mexico (1821-1836), Republic of Texas (Independence 1836-1846), the Confederacy during Civil war (1861-1865) and the U.S. (1847-1861 and Lost Cause, Republic of Texas Organization, #Texit, and Texas Nationalist Movement, and Republican Party endorsed Referendum, 1866-present). The above-condensed history of Texas illustrated one main point, that is, Texas joined the U.S. as an independent nation, different from other states in the United States. Hence, Texas maintained its legacy as an independent state with its state constitution reflecting that spirit. In addition, its secession history also cultivated an independent Texas culture longing for independence especially when Texans felt any suppression of their rights, like the problem caused by a flood of illegal immigrants. Hence it is understandable, that today there exists people promoting #Texit (after Brexit 2016) and independence through referendum. 
 
The geography of Texas is unique, being the second largest state in land and population in the U.S., occupying about 7% of the total water and land area of the U.S. Geographically, Texas encompasses plains, forests, lakes, and mountains with climates ranging from wet coastal areas to dry and barren deserts. The state has a significant amount of oil and natural gas reserves, both on dry land and in the Gulf of Mexico. The GDP of Texas state is over $2.356 trillion, ranked second to California, $3.6 trillion and higher than that of New York, $2.053 Trillion, a figure larger than that of most developed nations except China (China ranked number 2 in the world and Texas ranked 8th in the world). Texas is the leading U.S. producer of oil and natural gas. Many of the state’s manufacturing companies are located along the Gulf Coast near gas and oil resources. Texas also leads the country in cattle and cotton production and is home to more farmland, sheep, and lambs than any other state. Texas is in the south-central region of the U.S. continent with Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico as its southern border. If Texas were an independent nation, it would only have two neighbors, one the U.S. and the other Mexico but with easy ocean access to mid- and South America and Eastern parts of the U.S.
 
The illegal immigrant problem, of course, originated from Mexico with which Texas maintains 1,254 miles of border, about half of the U.S.-Mexico border. The large influx of illegal immigrants from the border into Texas naturally creates a social and economic burden on Texas. Biden's Administration (Democrat) compared to Trump's Administration (Republican) is too lenient with illegal immigrants. In addition, there is illegal drug smuggling from Mexico to the U.S. as well. Therefore, it is understandable that the state of Texas must strengthen its state law to deal with the illegal immigrant and drug smuggling issues. When Texas started to build the razor-loaded border fences, it triggered the controversy of human rights versus illegal human trafficking. The clash of state law and federal law on border control is now dividing the nation in opposition. Texas state has strengthened its state law making illegal immigration a state crime. Fourteen states (Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming) supported Texas in strengthening its border control. Under this atmosphere, it is no surprise that #Texit and the national independence movement in Texas are roaring their voices.
 
Will Texas State go through "Divorce America"?
 
If one recalls the history of the Civil War over the issue of slavery, one may find some asymmetry reasoning with the illegal immigrant issue. Before the Civil War, the U.S. imported slaves to work on the farms as cheap productive labor. The South states with more farmers and farms needed slaves. They accepted the slaves and provided them shelter and food but the northern states with fewer farms did not need slaves but skilled factory workers. The North took a high moral position advocating abandoning slavery. The North and South clashed leading to the civil war. Today, farms are highly automated with labor needs to be limited to more seasonal to hand-picked harvesting tasks, Hence the South would not need so many laborers especially illegal ones requiring social benefits. On the other hand, the nation especially the North with a shortage of low-skilled labor would not mind the flood of illegal immigrants seeping through the southern states and their borders. Immigrants do bring the labor cost down in certain service industries. Will this situation lead Texas to divorce America? Will the nation have a civil war? Texas might be better off as an independent nation with GPD ranked in the top ten of the world, provided the U.S. would be willing to be a nice neighbor.

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